CenLamar | Est. 2006

  • The Truth About Voter Turnout

    According to the United States Census Population Estimates Program, in 2006, Louisiana had a total population of 4,287,768 people, representing a 4.1% decrease since the 2000 Census (or a loss of a little more than 180,000 people between the years 2000 and 2006). At first glance, one may assume these numbers are entirely indicative of the net out-migration caused by Hurricane Katrina. After all, Katrina resulted in the destruction of over 275,000 homes and the loss of over 1,800 lives. Some conservative pundits seem almost gleeful at this population loss, opining that the loss primarily affected New Orleans African-Americans (who,…

  • “Ethics Reform Without Campaign Finance Reform Is A Scam”

    Today, former gubernatorial candidate and political activist Mike Stagg published an insightful piece entitled “Claiming Ethics: Turning Jindal’s Ethics Campaign Gambit Into Transformative Reform of Louisiana Politics” on his Louisiana Democrat 2 Democrat website. Throughout the past two months, Stagg has extensively researched and written about the duplicitous campaign finance tactics of key Republican candidates and organizations like the Louisiana Committee for a Republican Majority (LCRM). In his latest article, he poses a simple question: How can Governor-elect Jindal institute ethics reform without also reforming our convoluted and easily-manipulated campaign finance laws? He writes: Republican contributors have ridden roughshod over…

  • “Louisiana Speaks” Joins the Blogosphere

    Last month, Louisiana Speaks, an arm of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, joined the blogosphere, setting up shop at laspeaks.blogspot.com. Louisiana Speaks has been charged with the task of developing a long-term, state-wide comprehensive plan. During the past two years, they have held a series of community planning meetings throughout South Louisiana, and in May 2007, they published Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan: Vision and Strategies for Recovery and Growth in South Louisiana, a thorough and insightful document that establishes a number of key priorities in planning the recovery and redevelopment of coastal Louisiana and the areas most affected by Hurricanes Katrina…